Sapphire and Zoisite Optical Properties

Sapphire

Zoisite

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Optical Properties

Luster

Vitreous, Adamantine

Vitreous

Pleochroism

Strong

X = pale pink to red-violet; Y = nearly colorless to bright pink or deep blue; Z = pale yellow to yellow-green

Dispersion

0.020.02

0.005 1

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Transparency

Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to opaque

Transparent, Translucent, Opaque . May be translucent in thin backlit sections.

Refractive Index

1.762-1.7881.685-1.707

1 3.25

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Optic Character

Crystal System

Trigonal

Orthorhombic

Birefringence

0.008-0.0090.006-0.018

0 0.296

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Clarity

Transparent

Sapphire and Zoisite Optic Character

Sapphire and Zoisite optical properties play a significant role while distinguishing these gemstones from each other. These properties are influenced by the Sapphire and Zoisite Physical Properties like crystallographic symmetry, pleochroism,etc. in the crystal. Some of the optical properties are refractive index, luster, optic character, pleochroism etc. Prominent among these is Sapphire and Zoisite optic character. You might have noticed your gemologist rotating the gemstone while testing it. Rotating a gemstone along its optic axis helps in determining its optic character.

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Sapphire and Zoisite Transparency

Similar to their colors, Sapphire and Zoisite transparency can also be used as criteria for their primary identification. Although transparency cannot be the only criteria for gemstone identification, it can efficiently used in gemstone grading. Talking about their transparency, Sapphire is Transparent, Translucent and Transparent to opaque while Sapphire is Transparent, Translucent and Transparent to opaque in appearance.